ABDULSALAMI SETS RECORD STRAIGHT: MILITARY DID NOT WRITE THE 1999 CONSTITUTION

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has rejected claims that the military single-handedly wrote Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, insisting that such assertions are inaccurate.
Abdulsalami explained that the document was largely derived from the 1979 Constitution, which had been developed through extensive consultations and democratic processes before being adapted for Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999.
According to him, the transition administration relied heavily on existing constitutional frameworks and recommendations from constitutional bodies rather than drafting an entirely new document from scratch.
The former military leader said misconceptions about the origin of the Constitution have persisted over the years, despite efforts to clarify the process that led to its adoption.
He acknowledged ongoing calls for constitutional reforms but stressed the need for public discussions to be based on facts and historical realities.
His remarks come amid renewed debates over constitutional restructuring, devolution of powers, local government autonomy, and broader reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system.